Rubber boot or shoe



(No Model.) I Y F. M. SHEPARD.

RUBBER BOOT (ER SHOE.

No. 340,374. Pas-tented Apr.a20, 1886.

N. PETERS. Pholo-liihngrzpher. Wnhingion. 0 c.

toe-cap, also serves UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUBBER BOOT OR SHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Application tiled February 16, 1886. Serial No. 192,132.

Letters Patent No. 340,374,dated April 20, 1886.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK M. SHEP- ARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Orange, county of Essex, State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Manufacture of Rubber Boots and Shoes, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to the manufacture of rubber boots and shoes; and its object is to improve the construction and appearance of the toe part of such articles.

While leather shoes have heretofore been provided with toe-caps, never, to my knowledge, been applied to rubber boots or shoes. In leather shoes these devices are used, not only to serve the useful purpose of rendering the shoe more durable, but also to render the article more attractive in appearance, and to that end these caps have been made in various ways to suit the taste or fancy of different purchasers.

Ihave found that in rubber boots and shoes the objects desired in a toecap may to all intents and purposes be secured by running a band or strip of rubber across the upper near the toe, the ends of the band or strip meeting the edges of the sole on each side. This strip or band,whilc it produces the appearance of a to impart to the toe of the I shoe all the additional strength needed at that part by strengthening the connection between the upper and sole. The principal strain to which the toe part of the boot or shoe is peculiarly liable proceeds from the wear and pressure of the thick leather sole, or from forcing into the overshoeabroader toe and thicker sole than it was designed to cover. For resisting this strain the band or strip is as ofsuch construction hasv upper sheet fectual as an entire toecap. Moreover, the band or strip is susceptible of ornamentation in various ways, and its use is found to improve greatly the appearance of the article to which it is applied.

In the accompanying drawingwhirh forms a part of this specification, I have represented in perspective the front part of a rubber hoot or shoe having the invention applied thereto.

A is the upper of the boot or shoe, and B the sole, both of ordinary construction, except that the upper has a band or strip. 0, extending across it and joining the solo on either side. This strip or band is provided with any suitable ornanientati0n,which may be applied by passing the strip between engraved rollers having the desired pattern, the strip being afterward cemented to the upper; or the whole may be passed under engraved rollers at the time the sheet is spread.

If desired, the part a of the upper between the band C and toe of the sole may be thickened; but I do not regard this as essential, and this part of the toe may be suitably ornamented as well as the band.

What I claim is- A rubber boot or shoe having a narrow rubber band or strip extending across the upper on theoutside of the same, the ends of said band or strip being fastened to the sole on each side of the boot or shoe, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK M. SHEPARD.

WVitnesses:

JOSEPH A. MINo'rr, JOHN G. GREEN. 

